[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 139 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 139

 Expressing condolences to the people of New Zealand for the terrible 
loss of life and property suffered as a result of the deadly earthquake 
                   that struck on February 22, 2011.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 2, 2011

  Mr. Manzullo (for himself, Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, Mr. 
Brady of Texas, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Larsen of 
 Washington, and Mr. Sablan) submitted the following resolution; which 
            was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing condolences to the people of New Zealand for the terrible 
loss of life and property suffered as a result of the deadly earthquake 
                   that struck on February 22, 2011.

Whereas on February 22, 2011, a massive earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude on 
        the Richter scale struck the Canterbury region of New Zealand at 12:51 
        p.m. local time, causing tremendous loss of life and devastation in a 
        region already struggling to rebuild as a result of an earlier quake;
Whereas by March 2, 2011, the death toll had climbed to approximately 250 people 
        with a significant number still missing;
Whereas numerous personal accounts detail the heroism of survivors helping 
        victims escape the rubble and destruction, many of whom were tourists 
        and children;
Whereas the damage to Christchurch was exacerbated as a result of an earlier 
        earthquake, measuring 7.1 magnitude that struck the region on September 
        4, 2010, and which was followed by hundreds of aftershocks;
Whereas one-third of the buildings in Christchurch's central business district 
        are deemed unsafe, 755 buildings face demolition, and 625 properties in 
        Christchurch's surrounding suburbs are damaged beyond repair;
Whereas roads buckled and water pipes burst, flooding streets and depriving 35 
        percent of Christchurch's residents from access to potable water;
Whereas the steeple of Christchurch Cathedral, a historic landmark, collapsed 
        with an estimated 22 people feared trapped in the rubble;
Whereas 2 commuter buses were crushed under falling debris;
Whereas Lyttelton Port and the town of New Brighton, both closer to the 
        epicenter of the earthquake, are considered disaster areas;
Whereas the collapsed Christchurch Canterbury Television building housed an 
        English language school with students from Japan, China, Thailand, the 
        Philippines, and South Korea, who are among the casualties;
Whereas New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has described February 22, 2011, as 
        one of New Zealand's darkest days and its worst natural disaster in over 
        80 years;
Whereas the estimated monetary damage to Christchurch and the greater Canterbury 
        region may exceed $15,000,000,000 in damages;
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton affirmed in the Wellington 
        Declaration on November 4, 2010, that ``New Zealand and the United 
        States are both Pacific nations. Our governments and peoples share a 
        deep and abiding interest in maintaining peace, prosperity, and 
        stability in the region, expanding the benefits of freer and more open 
        trade, and promoting and protecting freedom, democracy and human rights 
        worldwide. We recall the long history of shared United States and New 
        Zealand sacrifice in battle and we honor those, past and present, who 
        have borne that sacrifice'';
Whereas the largest congressional delegation ever to visit New Zealand 
        participated in the United States-New Zealand Partnership Forum, held in 
        Christchurch, to deepen the bilateral relationship and promote United 
        States priorities within the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade 
        negotiations, which the delegation left only hours before the earthquake 
        struck;
Whereas the remaining United States delegation at the United States-New Zealand 
        Partnership Forum, which included senior executive branch officials, 
        former legislators, and leaders in business and academia, were also 
        affected by the earthquake;
Whereas the Government of New Zealand offered outstanding support in securing 
        and evacuating the United States delegation in the aftermath of the 
        earthquake;
Whereas the United States has affirmed its support and assistance to the people 
        of New Zealand, sending an 80-person United States Agency for 
        International Development (USAID) Disaster Assistance Response Team;
Whereas the United States Embassy dispersed to hospitals, shelters, triage 
        centers, and public parks in Christchurch to search for United States 
        citizens in the aftermath of the destruction;
Whereas Embassy personnel in Wellington, New Zealand, opened their homes to 
        house 24 United States evacuees, including 8 students;
Whereas approximately 3,500 United States citizens were believed to be in 
        Christchurch at the time of the earthquake, including delegates to the 
        United States-New Zealand Partnership Forum;
Whereas Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, the United 
        Kingdom, and other nations have sent rescue teams to assist in the vast 
        rescue mission; and
Whereas President Barack Obama expressed his ``deepest condolences to the people 
        of New Zealand and to the families and friends of the victims in 
        Christchurch, which suffered its second major earthquake in just six 
        months'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses its condolences to the people of New Zealand 
        for the terrible loss of life and property suffered as a result 
        of the deadly earthquake that struck on February 22, 2011;
            (2) mourns with the people of New Zealand and all the 
        countries affected by the earthquake;
            (3) pledges its full support to New Zealand as the rescue 
        and recovery effort continues;
            (4) recognizes the humanitarian response currently 
        underway; and
            (5) supports the continuing efforts by the United States 
        Government and private citizens to assist New Zealand as it 
        copes with this natural disaster.
                                 <all>